Reception method, reception device, transmission method, transmission device, transmission/reception method, transmission/reception device

ABSTRACT

An electronic mail on which a control command is interpolated is transmitted through a public line, received by a modem section of a gate way, converted to a digital data, and supplied to the control section. A CPU of the control section stores the received electronic mail in a RAM, and extracts the control command contained in the electronic mail. The CPU supplies a control signal corresponding to the control command to an interface section. The interface section controls an IR transmission section to transmit a signal corresponding to the control signal supplied from the CPU or outputs a signal through a connection line, and controls a video deck.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/029,238 filed Dec. 28, 2001, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/029,238is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/039,922 filed Mar. 16,1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,406 issued Apr. 16, 2002, which claims thebenefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 09-064230filed Mar. 18, 1997.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Heretofore, conventional electric appliances such as televisionreceivers and video decks have employed a control method that anoperation button provided on an appliance body or remote controller isoperated desirably.

Further, it is possible to operate as desired an electric appliancewhile a user leaves them without access by using a timer function toexecute at a prescribed time an operation set by way of buttonoperation.

Recently, it has been possible to control an electric appliance such asa video deck installed in user's house by way of interactive operationfrom the outside, for example, using a tone signal through a telephoneline.

However, an electric appliance which is operated by operating anoperation button provided on a remote controller or appliance body isdisadvantageous in that a user can not operates the electric appliancefrom the outside of the house.

Further, an electric appliance which can be operated using timerfunction are also disadvantageous in that a user can not change settingof the timer from the outside of the house if the setting of theappliance is wanted to be changed.

An electric appliance which can be controlled through a telephone linein interactive mode is also disadvantageous in that it takes a long timeto control the electric appliance because it is required to operate apush button in response to an audio message from the reception side(electric appliance). Further in the case that a plurality of electricappliances is controlled from the outside, a plurality of telephonelines is required individually for respective electric appliances tooperate these electric appliances by way of the same manner, thereforehigh installation cost is disadvantageous.

The present invention is accomplished in view of such problems, it isthe object of the present invention to provide a method for controllingfrom the outside simply and quickly an electric appliance installed in ahouse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the reception device described in the present invention, a receptionmeans receives an electronic mail transmitted through a network, anextraction means extracts a control command interpolated in theelectronic mail received by the reception means, and a control meanscontrols a prescribed electric appliance dependently on the controlcommand extracted by the extraction means. For example, the receptionmeans receives an electronic mail transmitted from the transmission sidethrough the Internet, the extraction means extracts the control commandfor reservation of a recording on a video deck interpolated on theelectronic mail received by the reception means, and the control meanssets the recording reservation on the video deck corresponding to thecontrol command extracted by the extraction means.

In the reception method described in the present invention, anelectronic mail transmitted through a network is received in thereception step, a control command interpolated in the electronic mailreceived by the reception means is extracted in the extraction step, anda prescribed electric appliance is controlled dependently on the controlcommand extracted by the extraction means in the control step. Forexample, an electronic mail transmitted from the transmission sidethrough the Internet is received in the reception step, the controlcommand for reservation of a recording on a video deck interpolated onthe electronic mail received in the reception step is extracted in theextraction step, and the recording reservation is set corresponding tothe control command extracted in the extraction step in the controlstep.

In the transmission device described in the present invention, anelectronic mail input means inputs an electronic mail, an addition meansadds an control command for controlling a prescribed electric applianceon the electronic mail inputted from the electronic mail input means,and a transmission means transmits the electronic mail on which thecontrol command is added by the addition means through a network. Forexample, the addition means adds the control command for reserving arecording on a video deck on the electronic mail inputted from theelectronic mail input means, and the transmission means transmits theelectronic mail on which the control command is added by the additionmeans to the reception side through the Internet.

In the transmission method described in the present invention, anelectronic mail is inputted in an electronic mail input step, an controlcommand for controlling a prescribed electric appliance is added in anaddition step on the electronic mail inputted in the electronic mailinput step, and a the electronic mail on which the control command isadded in the addition step is transmitted through a network in atransmission step. For example, the control command for reserving arecording on a video deck is added in the addition step on theelectronic mail inputted in the electronic mail input step, and theelectronic mail on which the control command is added in the additionstep is transmitted to the reception side through the Internet in thetransmission step.

In the transmission/reception device described in the present invention,on the transmission side, an electronic mail input means receives anelectronic mail, an addition means adds an control command forcontrolling a prescribed electric appliance on the electronic mailinputted from the electronic mail input means, and a transmission meanstransmits the electronic mail on which the control command is added bythe addition means through a network, and on the reception side, areception means receives an electronic mail transmitted through anetwork, an extraction means extracts a control command interpolated inthe electronic mail received by the reception means, and a control meanscontrols a prescribed electric appliance dependently on the controlcommand extracted by the extraction means. For example, on thetransmission side, the addition means adds the control command forreservation of a recording on a video deck on the electronic mailinputted from the electronic mail input means, and the transmissionmeans transmits the electronic mail on which the control command isadded by the addition means to the reception side through the Internet.On the reception side, the reception means receives the electronic mailtransmitted from the transmission side through the Internet, theextraction means extracts the control command for reserving a recordingon a video deck interpolated on the electronic mail received by thereception means, and the control means sets the recording reservation onthe video deck corresponding to the control command extracted by theextraction means.

In the transmission/reception method described in the present invention,on the transmission side, an electronic mail is inputted in anelectronic mail input step, an control command for controlling aprescribed electric appliance is added in the addition step on theelectronic mail inputted in the electronic mail input step, and theelectronic mail on which the control command is added in the additionstep is transmitted through a network in a transmission step, and on thereception side, an electronic mail transmitted through a network isreceived in a reception step, a control command interpolated in theelectronic mail received in the reception step is extracted in theextraction step, and a prescribed electric appliance is controlled in acontrol step dependently on the control command extracted in theextraction step. For example, on the transmission side, the controlcommand for reservation of a recording on a video deck is added in theaddition step on the electronic mail inputted in the electronic mailinput step, and the electronic mail on which the control command isadded in the addition step is transmitted to the reception side thoughthe Internet in the transmission step. On the reception side, theelectronic mail transmitted from the transmission side through theInternet is received in the reception step, the control command forreservation of a recording on a video deck interpolated on theelectronic mail received in the reception step is extracted in theextraction step, and the recording reservation on the video deck is setin the control step corresponding to the control command extracted inthe extraction step.

According to the reception device and reception method described in thepresent invention, because an electronic mail transmitted through anetwork is received, a control command interpolated on the receivedelectronic mail is extracted, and a prescribed electric appliance iscontrolled corresponding to the extracted control command, it ispossible to control correctly the electric appliance remotely.

According to the transmission method described in the present invention,because an electric mail is inputted, a control command for controllinga prescribed electric appliance is added on the input electronic mail,and the electronic mail on which the control command is added istransmitted through a network, it is possible to control the electricappliance rapidly.

According to the transmission/reception method described in the presentinvention, because, on the transmission side, an electronic mail isinputted, a control command for controlling a prescribed electricappliance is added on the input electronic mail, and the electronic mailon which the control command is added is transmitted through a network,and on the reception side, the electronic mail transmitted through thenetwork is received, the control command is extracted from the receivedelectronic mail, and the prescribed electric appliance is controlleddependently on the extracted control command, it is possible to controlthe electric appliance using a single transmission medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating an exemplary structure of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating an exemplary detailedstructure of a terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for illustrating an electronic mail for reservationon a video transmitted from a reception side.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for describing one example of a processingexecuted in a control section shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for describing the detail of a reservationprocessing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an example of an electronic mail transmitted from a receptionside when a recording is not reserved normally as the result of areservation processing shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an example of an electronic mail transmitted from a receptionside when a recording is reserved normally as the result of thereservation processing shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for describing the detail of a cancellationprocessing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for describing the detail of a confirmationprocessing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for illustrating one example of an electronic mailtransmitted from a reception side as the confirmation processing shownin FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart for describing one example of a processingexecuted in the control section 22 shown in FIG. 2 when a recording isreserved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating a structure of an embodiment of thepresent invention. In this drawing, terminals 1-1 to 1-6 are connectedto providers 3-1 and 3-2 through public lines (analog line or ISDN line)2-1 and 2-2, and a terminal can transmits/receives information betweenother terminals under the management of the providers 3-1 and 3-2.

When a terminal 1-1 to 1-6 makes a call through the public lines 2-1 and2-2, the providers 3-1 and 3-2 connect (dial-up IP connection) based onTCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) betweenterminals who made the call.

The Internet connects providers 3-1 and 3-2 each other, and communicateinformation between providers based on the protocol called as theabove-mentioned TCP/IP.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating an exemplary electricalstructure of a terminal 1-1 to 1-6 shown in FIG. 1. In the drawing, agate way 20 can transmit/receive information between other terminalsthrough the public line 2.

An input section 24 (electronic mail input means) comprises, forexample, a key board and mouse, and operated when a certain informationis inputted to the gate way 20. A CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor 25displays a received information or an information inputted from theinput section 24.

An IR (Infra Red) transmission section 26 irradiates infrared raysdependently on the control by means of the gate way, and controls avideo deck 27.

A connection line 28 is a signal line based on a home bus such as WiredCIRCS or LANC and served for transmission/reception of informationbetween the gate way 20 and video deck 27.

The video deck 27 performs an operation such as recording, playing back,or stopping in response to a control signal transmitted through the IRtransmission section 26 or connection line 28.

The gate way 20 comprises a modem section 21 (reception means,transmission means), control section 22, and interface section 23(control means).

The modem section 21 converts a signal (analog signal) on the publicline 2 and a signal (digital signal) in the control section 22alternately so that it is possible to transmit/receive informationbetween the public line 2 and the control section described hereinafter.

The control section 22 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22 a,(extraction means, control means, electronic mail generation means, andaddition means), ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 b, RAM (Random Access Memory)22 c, and timer 22 d.

The CPU 22 a performs various arithmetic operations, and controlsvarious components. The ROM 22 b stores programs which the CPU executesand data which is required for processing. The RAM 22 c storestemporarily data which are generated when the CPU 22 a executes anarithmetic operation. The timer 22 d generates the current time andoutputs it.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned embodiment is described.

It is assumed that a terminal installed in the house of a user is theterminal 1-1, and a terminal installed in the place where the user ispresent currently (for example, a company) is the terminal 1-4.

In such situation, the case that the user transmits an electronic mailfrom the terminal 1-4 in the company to the terminal 1-1 in the house toreserve a recording on the video deck is described.

It is assumed that the user operates the input section 24 of theterminal 1-4 in the company and inputs an electronic mail as shown inFIG. 3. An address of the electronic mail appears in the first line.“home-server” subsequent to “TO:” is the address of this electronicmail. In detail, “bar.sony.co.jp” subsequent to “indicates a domain name(domain name of the provider 3-1) and “home-server” antecedent to“indicates an ID name (ID name of the terminal 3-2).

An addresser is described in the second line. “foo” subsequent to “From”is the ID name of this user in the company, “sm.sony.co.jp” subsequentto “is the domain name (domain name of the provider 3-2).

In this embodiment, an case that the terminals 1-4 to 1-6 are connectedto the Internet 4 though the provider 3-2 is described, however, thecase that these terminals form a LAN (Local Area Network) and areconnected to the Internet 4 through a host computer may be involved.

In FIG. 4, the second address of this electronic mail appears in thethird line. In this example, “mother” immediately subsequent to “Cc” isthe ID name of the second addressee (for example, the ID name of themother of the user), and “bar.sony.co.jp” subsequent to “indicates thedomain name (domain name of the provider 3-1).

In the fourth line, a control command to the gate way 20 is described.In this example, “Video Reservation” is described subsequent to“Subject”, this suggests that the electronic mail includes a controlcommand to reserve a recording on the video deck 27.

“Video Reservation” in the fifth line is a control command to reserve arecording on the video deck 27 as described herein above.

Characters in the sixth line specifies respective parameters forreserving a recording. In detail, these characters are parametricdefinition of values and characters listed in the next seventh line.

Values and characters listed in the seventh line are set values ofparameters defined in the sixth line as described herein above. In thisexample, a recording “on 10-th day (date), 11:00 (FROM) to 12:00 (TO),at the SP (Standard Play) SPEED” is set. The order may be changeddesirably.

A message is described in the eighth line. In this example, a message “aprogram is reserved as described herein above” is described, and a factthat a program is reserved as described herein above on the video deckis informed to the second addressee namely the mother of the user.

The operation of the terminal 1-1 namely the reception side forresponding to the transmission of the electronic mail from the terminal1-4 is described with reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for describing one example of a processingperformed in the terminal 1-1.

As the result of performing the processing, the CPU 22 a of the controlsection 22 judges in the step S1 whether a set time (for example, 10minutes) elapses. If the judgment result is NO, then the sequencereturns to the step S1, the same processing is repeated until the settime elapses. On the other hand, if the judgment result is YES, then thesequence proceeds to the step S3.

In the step S2, the CPU 22 a supplies a prescribed control signal to themodem section 21, calls the provider 3-1 through the public line 2, andjudges whether an electronic mail addressed to this terminal 1-1 isreceived. If the judgment result is NO, then the sequence returns to thestep S1, and repeats the same processing as described herein above. Onthe other hand, if the judgment result is YES, then the sequenceproceeds to the step S3.

In the step S3, the CPU 22 a acquires an electronic mail which theprovider 3-1 received, and stores it in the RAM 22 c. The sequenceproceeds to the step S4.

In the step S4, the CPU 22 a reads the electronic mail stored in the RAM22 c successively one line by one line, and judges whether a commandcharacter string (character string which contains a control command) iscontained. If the judgment result is NO, then the sequence returns tothe step S1, and the same processing as described herein above isrepeated. On the other hand, if the judgment result is YES, then thesequence proceeds to the step S5. If the judgment result is NO, theelectronic mail stored in the RAM 22 c can be displayed on the CRTmonitor 25 by operating the input section 24.

In the step S4 the judgment result is YES, the sequence proceeds to thestep S6, and whether the command character string is “VIDEO Reservation”(video recording reservation) is judged. If the judgment result is NO,then the sequence proceeds to the step S7. On the other hand, if thejudgment result is YES, the sequence proceeds to the step S6.

The step 6 is a sub-routine processing, the detail of the processing isdescribed with reference to FIG. 5. As the result of the processing inthe step S6, the processing in the step S20 in FIG. 5 is called andexecuted. In the processing in the step S20, the CPU 22 a judges whetherthe set content (parameter) of the command character string is normal.In detail, for example, an erroneous data such as that the recordingending time is earlier than the recording starting time, or that therecording time of the previously set recording reservation data overlapspartially on the recording time of the recording reservation datareceived this time is detected. As the result, if the set content isjudged to be not normal (NO), then the sequence proceeds to the stepS21, an electronic mail for indicating that the recording reservation isimpossible to be set is prepared and transmitted to the terminal 1-4 ofthe transmission side through the modem 21.

On an electronic mail shown in FIG. 6, like the above-mentioned case, anaddress namely the ID name and domain name of the terminal 1-4 is listedin the first line. An address of the addresser namely the ID name anddomain name of the terminal 1-1 is listed in the second line. Further inthe third line, “VIDEO Reservation” which indicates that this electronicmail relates to a recording reservation on the video is listed.

In the next line, the set content described in the electronic mail shownin FIG. 3 is listed as it is. In the next line, a message whichindicates that the setting is impossible because the recording time ofthe previously set recording reservation data overlaps partially on therecording time of the recording reservation data received this time islisted. Such an electronic mail is generated in the processing in thestep S21, and transmitted to the terminal 1-4. Then, the sequencereturns to the processing in the step S6 in FIG. 4.

On the other hand, if the set content is judged to be normal (YES) inthe step 20, the sequence proceeds to the step S22. In the step S22, theCPU 22 a extracts parameters contained in the recording reservationdata, and the sequence proceeds to the step S23.

In the step S23, the CPU 22 a judges whether the extracted parameterincludes all the parameters. The parameter for a recording reservationshould include a recording data (DATE), recording starting time (FROM),recording ending time (TO), recording channel (CH), and recording mode(SPEED). As the judgment result, if not all the parameters are contained(NO), the sequence proceeds to the step S24, deficient parameters arecompleted with a default value, and the sequence proceeds to the stepS25. Herein the default value is set as described herein under.

Recording date: date on which the electronic mail is received. Recordingstarting time: the time point at which the electronic mail is received.Recording ending time: the time point after 1 hr from the time ofreception of the electronic mail. Channel: the favorite channel(previously set channel). Recording mode: LP (Long Play) mode.

Hence, for example, it is assumed that an electronic mail as describedherein under is received on 10-th day.

DATE FROM TO CH SPEED10:00

The recording parameters as described herein under are set.

DATE FROM TO CH SPEED10:00=10, 10:00, 11:00, 4, LP

The above-mentioned default value may be changeable. For example, therecording data may be the next day to the day on which the electronicmail is received, recording starting time may be the time after 10minutes from the time when the electronic mail is received, recordingending time may be the time after 30 minutes from the recording startingtime, and recording mode may be SP (Standard Play). (LP indicates thelong time recording mode and SP indicates the standard time recordingmode of so-called home VTR (VHS system)).

On the other hand, it is judged in the step S23 that all the parametersare contained, the sequence skips the processing in the step S24, andproceeds to the step S25.

In the step S25, the extracted parameters are stored in a prescribedregion of the RAM 22 c (in the region where operation time of the timeris set) and the operation of the timer rises to start. Then, thesequence proceeds to the step S26.

In the step S26, the CPU 22 a, for example, generates an electronic mailshown in FIG. 7 in order to confirm the recording reservation content,and transmits it to the terminal 1-4 through the modem section 21. Inthis embodiment, the addressee, addresser, and title of the electronicmail listed in the first line to third line are the same as those listedin FIG. 6. However, a reservation number is listed in the fourth line,and the listing in the fourth line indicates that the data is receivedby the terminal 1-1 as the second recording reservation data. In thenext line, the set content of the received parameters is listed. In thefinal line, a message which indicates that the recording of the setcontent shown in the drawing is reserved is listed. Such an electricmail is transmitted to the terminal 1-4, the user who transmitted theelectronic mail of the recording reservation shown in FIG. 3 canrecognize that the terminal 1-1 completed the setting normally withreference to the electronic mail shown in FIG. 7.

After completion of the process in the step S26, the sequence returns tothe step S6 in FIG. 4. The sequence returns to the step S1, and repeatsthe same processing as described herein above.

On the other hand, in the processing in the step S5, if the commandcharacter string is not “VIDEO Reservation” (NO), the sequence proceedsto the step S7. The CPU 22 a judges whether the command character stringis “VIDEO Cancel”. If the command character string is judged not to be“VIDEO Cancel” (NO), then the sequence proceeds to the step S9. On theother hand, if the command character string is judged to be “VIDEOCancel” (YES), then the sequence proceeds to the step S8. The processingin the step S8 is a sub-routine, the detail is described with referenceto FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for illustrating the detail of the cancellationprocessing shown in FIG. 4. In this processing, a recording reservationdata previously set is deleted. When this processing is executed, theCPU 22 a judges in the step S40 whether the specified recordingreservation data (specified to be deleted) is stored in the RAM 22 c. Asthe result, if the specified recording reservation data is judged not tobe stored in the RAM 22 c (NO), the sequence proceeds to the step S41,and an electronic mail which indicates that it is impossible to deletethe specified recording reservation data is transmitted to the terminal1-4 through the modem 21 as in the step S21 shown in FIG. 5. Then, thesequence returns to the step S8 (return).

On the other hand, if the specified recording reservation data is judgedto be stored in the RAM 22 c (YES), then the sequence proceeds to thestep S42. In the step S42, the CPU 22 a deletes the specified recordingreservation data from the RAM 22 c. The sequence proceeds to the stepS43, and an electronic mail which indicates that the reservation datawas deleted is transmitted to the terminal 1-4. Then, the sequencereturns to the processing in the step S8 shown in FIG. 4 (return). Afterreturning to the processing in the step S8, the sequence returns to thestep S1, and repeats the same processing as described herein above.

In the processing in the step S7, if the command character string isjudged not to be “VIDEO Cancel” (NO), then the sequence proceeds to thestep S9. In the step S9, the CPU 22 a judges whether the commandcharacter string is “VIDEO Confirm”. As the result, if the commandcharacter string is judged not to be “VIDEO Confirm” (NO), then thesequence returns to the step S1, and repeats the same processing asdescribed herein above. On the other hand, if the command characterstring is judged to be “VIDEO Confirm” (YES), then the sequence proceedsto the step S10.

The step S10 is a sub-routine for transmitting all the recordingreservation data stored in the RAM 22 c as an electronic mail, when thisprocessing is executed, the processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

When the processing in the step S60 shown in FIG. 9 is executed, the CPU22 a reads out all the recording reservation data stored in the RAM 22c. Then the sequence proceeds to the step S61, the CPU 22 a prepares anelectronic mail as shown in FIG. 10, and transmits it to the terminal1-4 through the modem section 21.

The ID name and domain name of the terminal 1-4 namely the addressee islisted in the first line, ID name and domain name of the terminal 1-1namely the addresser is listed in the second line of the electronic mailshown in FIG. 10. The purpose of this electronic mail of confirming arecording reservation data on video 27 is described in the third line.

In the fourth line, “the set content of the recording reservation isdescribed in the following” is listed for showing that recordingreservation data are listed in the following. The data of reservationnumber “1” containing recording on 10-th day, from 9:00 to 10:00, atchannel 1 in the LP (Long Play) mode is listed, and in the next line,the data of reservation number “2” containing recording on 10-th day,from 11:00 to 12:00, at channel 3, in the SP (Standard Play) mode islisted.

The terminal 1-4 receives the electronic mail described herein above.The user can see the received electronic mail on the CRT monitor 25, andcan confirm the recording reservation data set in the terminal 1-1.

After completion of the processing in the step S61 in FIG. 9, thesequence returns to the processing in the step S10 shown in FIG. 4(return). The sequence returns to the step S1, and repeats the sameprocessing as described herein above.

As the result of the above-mentioned processing, the recordingreservation data transmitted from the terminal 1-4 installed outside thehouse is stored in the RAM 22 c of the terminal 1-1 installed inside thehouse. The terminal 1-1 controls the video deck 27 dependently on theprocessing shown in FIG. 11, and performs a recording at the timereserved.

When the processing shown in FIG. 11 is executed, the CPU 22 a comparesan output data of the timer section 22 d with the recording reservationdata stored in the RAM 22 c, and judges whether the time reaches therecording starting time. If the judgment result is NO, then the sequencereturns to the step S80, and repeats the same processing until the timereaches the recording starting time. On the other hand, if the judgmentresult is YES, then the sequence proceeds to the step 89.

In the step S81, the CPU 22 a judges whether the video deck 27 isconnected through a wire, that is, the CPU 22 a judges whether the videodeck 27 is connected to the gate way 20 through the connection line 28.If the judgment result is YES, then the sequence proceeds to the stepS82, on the other hand, if the judgment result is NO, then the sequenceproceeds to the step S89.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the video deck 27 is connected to thegate way 20 through the wire, and the IR transmission section 26 forcontrolling the video deck by way of infrared ray is connected to thegate way 20. In such a case, the connection line with a hightransmission rate and high reliability is used preferentially.

In the FIG. 11, if the judgment result is YES in the step S81, then thesequence proceeds to the step S82, the CPU 22 a turns the power sourceof the video deck 27 ON through the wired interface (connection line28). Then, the sequence proceeds to the step S83, the CPU 22 a sets therecording speed in, for example, the SP mode through the wiredinterface.

In the subsequent step S84, the CPU 22 a sets the recording channel onthe video deck 27 through the wired interface. Further in the step S85,the CPU 22 a transmits a prescribed control signal to the video deck 27through the wired interface similarly and starts the recording.

In the step S86, the CPU 22 a compares the output data of the timersection 22 d with the recording reservation data stored in the RAM 22 c,and judges whether the time reaches the recording ending time. If thejudgment result is NO, then the sequence returns to the step S86, andrepeats the same processing until the time reaches the recording endingtime. On the other hand, the judgment result is YES, the sequenceproceeds to the step S87, and the CPU 22 a brought the video deck 27 toa stop through the wired interface. Then, the sequence proceeds to thestep S88, the CPU 22 a turns the power source of the video deck 27 OFF,and the sequence returns to the step S80, and repeats the sameprocessing as described herein above.

In the step S81, if the CPU 22 a judges that the video deck 27 is notconnected through the wire, the sequence proceeds to the step S89, thenthe CPU 22 a transmits a prescribed control signal from the IR interface(IR transmission section 26), and turns the power source of the videodeck 27 ON.

The sequence proceeds to the step S90, the CPU sets the recording speedthrough the IR interface.

In the subsequent step S91, the CPU 22 a sets the recording channel onthe video deck 27 through the IR interface. Further in the step S92, theCPU 22 a transmits a prescribed control signal to the video deck 27through the IR interface, and starts the recording.

In the step S93, the CPU 22 a compares the output data of the timersection 22 d with the recording reservation data stored in the RAM 22 c,and judges whether the time reaches the recording ending time. As theresult, if the CPU 22 a judges that the time does not reach therecording ending time (NO), the sequence returns to the step S93, andrepeats the same processing until the time reaches the recording endingtime. On the other hand, if the CPU 22 a judges that the time reachesthe recording ending time (YES), the sequence proceeds to the step S94,and the CPU 22 a brought the video deck 27 to a stop through the IRinterface. Then, the sequence proceeds to the step S95, the power sourceof the video deck is turned OFF, and the sequence returns to the stepS80, and repeats the same processing as described herein above.

According to the processing described herein above, it is possible tocontrol the video deck 27 dependently on the recording reservation datastored in the RAM 22 c, and record a desired program.

According to the embodiment described hereinbefore, a user who isoutside the house can control an electric appliance such as a video deckinstalled in the user's house, and also possible to confirm thepossibility of setting and the set content by way of an electric mail.

In the embodiment described hereinbefore, the case that the video deck27 is exemplified as an electric appliance to be controlled by the gateway 20 is described, however, the present invention is by no meanslimited to the case, alternatively, for example, other electricappliances such as an air conditioner or audio device can be controlled.

In the embodiment described hereinbefore, the case that the terminals1-1 to 1-6 are connected through the Internet 4 and providers 3-1 and3-2 is described, however, other transmission medium can be used.

1. A recording apparatus comprising: a receiver that receives from an electronic device, via a network, control information that includes at least an operation mode of the recording apparatus, a starting time to start the operation of the recording apparatus and an end time to end the operation of the recording apparatus; a timer that provides a current time of the recording apparatus; and a controller configured to start the operation of the recording apparatus in accordance with the operation mode when the current time corresponds with the starting time, and to end the operation of the recording apparatus when the current time corresponds with the ending time.
 2. The recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control information is provided from the electronic device via a remote computer.
 3. The recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation mode is a video recording reservation mode.
 4. The recording apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiver is configured to receive an electronic message to cancel the start of the operation; and when said electronic message is received prior to said starting time, said controller prevents the recording apparatus from starting the operation of the recording apparatus.
 5. The recording apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a transmission device that transmits a confirmation electronic message that provides an indication of a confirmation of cancellation of a planned recording at said recording device.
 6. An electronic device comprising: a communication interface configured to send via a network control information that includes at least an operation mode of a recording apparatus, a starting time to start the operation of the recording apparatus, and the end time to end the operation of the recording apparatus; a wireless interface configured to exchange wireless information with the electronic device; a control section including a CPU programmed to format said control information, based on user input from an input section, said input including selections made by an end user, that are included in said control information; and wherein said communication interface is configured to receive scheduled confirmation of a schedule recording set to set control information.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the electronic device is not a mobile device.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein said control section is further configured to include in said control information additional information to cancel a recording, previously scheduled.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein said communications interface receives at least a portion of said control information from a remote computer.
 10. An electronic device comprising: a communication interface configured to send a recording request from a remote device to a recording apparatus; and a processor configured to prepare and send to the remote device an electronic message containing control information including at least one of an operation mode of the recording apparatus, a starting time to start the operation of the recording apparatus, and an end time to end the operation of the recording apparatus.
 11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the operation mode is a video recording reservation mode.
 12. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein wherein said processor is further configured to include in said control information additional information to cancel a recording, previously scheduled. 